Senior Researcher (P7) (College of Business and Economics: Department of Transport and Supply Chain Management) (5 Year Contract) at University of Johannesburg

Job description

• The Department of Botany and Plant Biotechnology is proud to be one of a few standalone Botany departments at universities in South Africa. In terms of teaching, the Department offers all three core disciplines of Botany, i.e. Plant Taxonomy, Plant Anatomy, and Plant Physiology, both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. In addition, we offer applied fields such as Biotechnology and Molecular Biology and are the custodian department for the Life Sciences to BEd students registered in the Faculty of Education. Our research focuses on several aspects including anatomy, biotechnology, chemotaxonomy, DNA barcoding, ecology, ethnobotany, medicinal plants, plant defence responses, post-harvest physiology, plant taxonomy, and systematics. The Department hosts two NRF SARCHi chairs, one in Indigenous Plant Use and the other in Sustainable Preservation and Agroprocessing Research, with an additional UJ Research Centre in DNA Barcoding (African Centre for DNA Barcoding).
• The appointee will present lectures in Physiology at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, attract research funding and actively conduct research within the field, supervise postgraduate students and be involved in Faculty and Departmental administration. Additional lecturing in the field of botany when needed and other day-to-day activities of the Department, Faculty and the Institution

Responsibilities:

This is a senior position (Senior Lecturer, Associate or Full Professor) in the Department of Botany and Plant Biotechnology. The successful candidate shall be required to:

• Be capable to lecture undergraduate and postgraduate students in Plant Physiology and other fields if needed.
• Have experience in directing and developing practicals at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in Plant Physiology.
• Be able to develop course material for undergraduate and postgraduate modules required in the Department of Botany and Plant Biotechnology.
• Must demonstrate a strong commitment to excellence in teaching and productive research and play a leading role in teaching innovation.
• Be actively involved in core activities of the department including, but not limited to, academic administration, research, short-course development, marketing, and community projects.
• Have proven track record for attracting funding for research.
• Have experience in conducting research, publishing in peer-reviewed journals, and delivering conference papers.
• Ability to perform research, teaching, student supervision and administration simultaneously.

Minimum requirements

• PhD degree specializing in Plant Physiology.
• A minimum of 6 years’ experience lecturing and performing research at a Higher Education institution.
• Proven lecturing track record at the level of Senior Lecturer, Associate or Full Professor at a Higher Education institution.
• Experience in organizing and managing undergraduate practicals and student assistants or tutors for Plant Taxonomy students.
• Proven record of engagement with the scholarship of teaching, an abridged teaching evaluation or portfolio needs to accompany the application.
• Strong commitment to good teaching and research.
• Excellent communication skills in English.
• Experience in post-graduate supervision.
• A good/successful research fundraising track record.
• Proven research track record through publications, talks and invited talks, patents, etc.
• Good interpersonal skills.

Competencies and Behavioural Attributes:

• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
• Good planning, organisational and time management skills.
• Excellent computer literacy skills and experience with the integration of ITC in teaching and learning e.g. LMS Moodle, R, physiology related software, etc.
• Excellent teaching and motivational skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills that support collaboration with others and working as a team member.
• Analytical thinking.

Recommendations:

• Innovative teaching techniques incorporating technology.
• Demonstrated ability/experience to work with a multidisciplinary team.
• Valid driver’s licence and recent regular driving experience.
• Ability to develop new undergraduate and postgraduate modules.
• NRF rated.

Deadline: 13 April 2025